Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-17


ser spoke those few words few min
- ago, WAS mis- reply. But If YOU
:rd ever seen her, Mamie, Won would
arceiy wonder that her beauty and
attractiveness made me forget all other
obligations for awhile. l came to my
senses at last however. and Just in
time
Il waited on the platform until the
train came in. and they entered it. As
Oswald stepped into the carriage this
crumpled bit OF paper fell from his
pocket Strengthened it out. and read
what afforded an added confirmation
if any were needsd-of his base and
heartless treachery. Shall | read it?
Every word!" fell from the listeners
pallid lips.
my Dear Oswaid.--Your letter has healed
my aching and desoate heart, and filled it
once more with peace and Joy. OF course the
girl whose beauty has made you forget your
loyalty to inc will be bitterly. disappointed:
but one of us must suffer. and have the best
and strongest Claim upon yolr honor and
fidelity. But | have no further need for
reproaches. You have told me that the day
! that was 10 witness her wedding with you
shall witness mine instead; and | count the
hours that shall bring you back 10 your loving
aud forgiying Mamie
A moments silence followed the last
words; then in that hollow. unnatural
voice, Constance spoke again:
as that ALP"
''All, dear friend; and would that it
had been the task of some one else to
bring you the proofs of the base treach-
cry of the man you have esteemed so
highly. Bitter as was the pang of
losing you, | could have controlled my
pain. and resigned you to one worthy
of your love; but to think that one un.
known to any of us until six months
ago should, with lying and specious
words. beguile and then desert YOU
oh! it is too cruelr' And burying his
face in his hands, with groan he sank
upon chair.
A moment longer Constance stood
like figure carved in stone, then lay
ing her hand upon his shoulder, said,
family:
''Ralph-best and truest friend coun.
sci me; tell me what to do"
Ralph raised his head and looked
eagerly ut her.
"Oh, Constance! if only might coun.
sci you according to the promptings of
my heart! You know not how you
tempt me.
Speak interrupted the sad voice
Il will listen"
Hear me, them he exclaimed. seiz.
ing her hands. Your guests are here;
the minister waiting. Let me stand in
the place of HIM who has so cruelty be-
trayed your trust Let him not have it
10 boast that he left lovelorn, desert
cd sweetheart behind. | was about to
start for Africa--my passage already
engaged. Will YOU go with me. my
darllng-my cherished companion and
wife?"
For an instant only chill as if from
the icy shores ot death trembled along
every nerve and fibre of her being; then
she spoke again
Il will be your wife. Let us go down.
am ready"
The service was over; few words
had explained the altered situation. and
Constance, having exchanged her we'd
ding-robes for travelling dress. was
placed in the carriage by her husband.
For while they rode on in silence,
then there was sudden plunging of
the horses, the driver was thrown vio-
lently from his seat, and the frightened
animals dashed madly onward.
Ralph attempted to look from the
window. and saw that the horses,
swerving from the mann road. had
taken the route leading past the Owl
Tavern.
A little distance further on the horses
shed at something in the road; the
carriage lurched heavily, and ali was a
blank.
When Constance opened her eyes, af-
ter what seemed hours of unconscious
ness, she beheld an elderly man beside
her.
What is it? Where am /? And
where is my husband?"
.At the Owl Tavern, my dear young
lady, and your husband lies fatally in
jured in yondcr room; but he saws he
cannot die until he has made :. confess
sion TO You. You do not appear to be
injured; try to stand IL.
With the Iuc.ue, avip Constance
tottered IN o tna r3l. j. .,rc ner hus-
band lay. H. I. So, i 80 LAST. int
it lasted II / ~ ti-. ~ .n,-ibe
forging OF the lcir-., Ma, = al t,,n,.n
the landlord away the writing of the
other letters, and his conspiracy with
Grumpy jim" He told how he had
entered Oswald's stable by means Of
false key and looscned the horses shoe
SO that it would be lost on the road.
and finally disclosed the fact that the
missing bridegroom was lying at that
moment in little room in the north
wing of the tavern, under the influence
of the drug administered by James Red
furth.